Sports Minister Kofi Adams has pushed back against demands for his sack over the Kofi Adams visa scandal, insisting his ministry was kept in the dark about visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His response follows sharp criticism from the Minority in Parliament, which wants him dismissed and prosecuted over alleged irregularities involving supporter travel.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Ranking Member of Parliament's Sports Committee, alleged during a press conference that officials facilitated visa applications for people who were not employees of the Ministry.
Assafuah claimed a cover letter had been prepared to present outsiders as Ministry staff to facilitate their visa applications.
The controversy deepened after President John Dramani Mahama suspended National Sports Authority Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
The Minority has also called for the dismissal and prosecution of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority over alleged involvement in the arrangements.
Ministry Left Out of Loop
Adams told Channel One TV the National Sports Authority, the GTA, the United States Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest handled the arrangements without the Ministry's knowledge.
"Well, I don't see the justification. Both the American Embassy and TRIBE Culture Fest, the NSA and the GTA were doing their thing behind the Ministry. The Ministry didn't know." - Kofi Adams
He identified a letter dated May 19 requesting that the Ministry forward the names of event coordinators and volunteers as the first time he became aware of the matter.
The letter was forwarded to the Ministry's Chief Director, who serves on the technical committee overseeing the arrangements.
No Financial Loss
According to Mr Adams, the committee had agreed that the names of individuals expected to perform specific duties related to the World Cup should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy to allow preparatory processes to begin.
He maintained that his role was limited to forwarding the letter through the appropriate administrative channels and that he had no knowledge of the alleged financial transactions.
"Government money has not been lost," he said. Adams argued the Ministry would have known about the arrangements if the parties involved had informed it or copied it in their correspondence.
He insists his involvement was purely administrative once the May 19 letter landed on his desk. The Minister maintains that without formal correspondence copying his office, he could not have sanctioned any irregularities personally.
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